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MEP-003A just goes click when trying to start - fully charged fresh batteries

pclausen

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Afton, VA
Got the throttle cable installed and I also straightened out a couple of the panels so that everything fits nicely together and closes and latches properly.

Since I had the air cleaner body off to fix the area where the intake tube connects to the manifold, I decided the clean all the flaking paint off the generator head with a wire brush wheel and repaint it. I also prepped and repainted the large lift eye since it was pretty rusty as well.

Put everything back together and started it up and adjusted the throttle to right around 60Hz and let it run for about 5 minutes with no load.

Here's a shot of it running:

MEP003-11-1-01.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-1-01.jpg

Got plenty of oil pressure:

MEP003-11-1-02.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-1-02.jpg

Next task will be to do a load test. For that, I picked up some cheap water heater elements of various wattages, along with 5 20A single pole switches so that I can easily bring the elements online individually to dial in the load percentage.

MEP003-11-1-03.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-1-03.JPG

Not sure if I'll end up using the 1500W element since it is 120V and will have to be hooked up differently that the rest.

I got some Rubbermaid tubs on hand, 50, 100, 150 and 300 gallons, I think I'll probably go with the 100 gallon one since it has already been drilled from when I used it for my saltwater fish tank back in the day.
 

pclausen

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Afton, VA
Got a chance to load test this unit and I'm impressed!

Here's the tub filling up while the genset is warming up:

MEP003-11-2-01.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-01.JPG

Under load with @ 12,500 Watt, you have to look real hard to see any smoke from the exhaust:

MEP003-11-2-02.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-02.JPG

Holding steady at 60.0 Hz:

MEP003-11-2-03.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-03.JPG

Load @ 12,500 Watt is indicating around 130%

MEP003-11-2-04.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-04.JPG

I then turned on the 2nd 3500 Watt element for a total of 16,000 Watt, and the engine barely noticed and still no black smoke at all from the exhaust. The load meter is completely pegged at this point:

MEP003-11-2-05.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-05.JPG

After a minute or so, I went back to 12,500 Watt and left it like that for 15 minutes. When I came back, I noticed the main breaker had tripped. I reset it, and it tripped again. I then reduced the load to 9,000 Watt and it stopped tripping. I then tried 12,500 Watt again, and it tripped right away. I then tried 11,500 Watt and it also tripped. So I guess the "slow blow" thermal trip started kicking in from running it @ 12,500 Watt for about 15 minutes? I don't think this will be an issue in actual use and I don't anticipate running a 12,500 Watt load for extended periods, let alone 16,000 Watt. But it is nice to know it can handle it for short periods.

Once it was fully warmed up, the oil pressure dropped to around 40 psi:

MEP003-11-2-06.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-06.JPG

With the testing done, I decided to clean it up a bit. Here is is after a quick power wash, running on the forklift to dry it back out.

MEP003-11-2-07.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-07.JPG

MEP003-11-2-08.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-08.JPG

MEP003-11-2-09.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-09.JPG

And back in the shop. Next up will be getting it connected to the house.

MEP003-11-2-10.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-10.JPG

So all in all, I'm very pleased with the results of this "10kw" generator.

Now I just need to get my 5 802As running as good as this one!
 
Last edited:

Rapracing

Member
271
0
16
Location
Western Pennsylvania
I like the load bank. Is it wire two 120 wire to each lug or 240v somehow? Any pics of the connection at the generator?

Sorry, don't mean to be a dummy but I'm going to build one of those.

One more question, did you just thread the elements into the tank? I have an extra 150 here that we used for the horses at one time but no longer use.

Thanks
 

pclausen

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
452
281
63
Location
Afton, VA
I just twisted the 4 blacks and the 4 whites together on the generator end and then attached one bundle to L1 and the other to L3 and the selector to 120V/240V 1 phase.

Here's what the generator end looks like. After twisting them, I also soldered them together for good measure.

MEP003-11-2-11.jpg
http://www.cstone.net/~dk/MEP003-11-2-11.JPG

Yes, I just drilled 4 holes on the 100 gallon stock tank with a hole saw and screwed in the elements. They cut their own threads in the plastic. You do have to be careful not to overtighten, but it doesn't really matter if it leaks a little. One could always unscrew them and add silicone if a 100% watertight seal is desired.
 
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